Belt



J. RASP "BELT June 2, 1936.

Filed Jan. 4, 1936 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATESi i A'EEhlT @FFIQE BELT John Rasp, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 4, 1936, Serial No. 57,603

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in belts, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a belt having interposed therein means whereby the belt is permitted to automatically adjust itself to different conditions within certain limits and which also permits the belt to be worn with increased comfort.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved belt whereby certain important advantages are at.- tained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating adjustable means for a belt constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a part of the casing extended;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view of one of the casing blanks as herein embodied;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating an adjusting means constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, B denotes the rear portions of belt sections and in connection with which is adapted to be employed a means to permit the sections to have automatic relative adjustment sothat the belt will readily compensate itself for such irregularities as may occur in use whereby the belt as an entirety may be worn with increased comfort. The adjustable means in the complete belt is so arranged as to be positioned at the rear when the belt is being worn.

Secured to the opposed end portions of the belt sections B are the casings C formed of metal and preferably of a rustless character. Each of these casings C is formed from a single blank of sheet material as illustrated in Figure 5 and is cut to provide two plates I and 2 connected by a reduced neck portion 3. The plates I and 2 are bent into overlying relation to receive therebetween an end portion of a belt section B and portions of the plates I and 2 have struck therefrom the pointed members i to penetrate the belt portion to provide means for effectively anchoring the clasp in position. I do not, however, wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular means of securement as other means may be used if preferred.

The neck 3 is of a width less than the width of the plates I and 2 with the inner margin of the neck substantially coplanar with the inner marginal portions of the plates I and 2. The plate I along its inner marginal portion is initially formed with an extended portion 5 extending entirely therealong and which is bent at right angles tothe plate I to provide a holding flange to interlock with end portions of a series of coil springs 6 arranged substantially in parallelism and of desired length. 20

The inner margin of the plate 2 is also provided with an extended portion I to be bent at right angles thereto to provide a flange and this flange l in its outer longitudinal marginal portion is provided with the notches or recesses B to partially receive the springs 6 when the plate 2 is folded to its position across its associated belt section B. This flange I coacts with the flange 5 to provide means to effectively maintain the springs 6 in secure connection with the casing, said coaction being materially facilitated by having the flange 5 of a width in excess of the width of the flange I. In referring to the width of either of the flanges 5 and I it is the dimension of either of said flanges in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plates I and 2.

As is believed to be obvious from the accompanying drawing the plate I extends transversely across a belt section B in contact with one face of said belt section and the plate 2 is disposed J g across said belt section in contact with the opposite face.

The outer ends of the plates I and 2 at points aligned with the neck 3 are provided with the extended plates 9 to be folded at right angles with respect to said plates so that these plates 9 will overlap. The outer portion of one of the plates 9 at opposite sides thereof carries the outstanding tabs ID, while the outer portion of the second plate 9 at opposite sides thereof carries the outstanding tabs It. The tabs it of one plate 9 lap the adjacent edges of the second plate 9, while the tabs I9 lap the adjacent edges of the first plate 9.

The tabs I9 and IE3 are each of a length less than the length of the neck 3 and the distance between the plate I or 2 and the tabs ID or ID is not less than one-half of the length of the neck so that the desired bending of the tabs l0 and I0 may be effected. It is also to be stated that the neck 3 is of a length substantially equal to the thickness of the belt section B with which the casing is engaged.

The structure hereinbefore described provides a belt having an intermediate portion which is capable of stretching and retracting after stretching so that the belt in its entirety will readily adjust itself when applied around the waist to compensate for varying conditions and thus permit the belt to be worn with increased comfort and particularly with the elimination of a cutting action of the belt as so often occurs in connection with the wearing of the conventional type of one-piece or non-adjustable belt.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 6, each of the casings C is constructed substantially in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth with respect to the casing C except that the flanges 5 and I are substantially the same, that is to say, their free longitudinal margins are unbroken. These flanges ,5 and I are adapted to have holding engagement from opposite sides with an end portion of an elastic member II of desired length for positioning between the belt sections B in lieu of the springs 6 hereinbefore referred to. The flanges 5 and I may impinge the rubber or elastic member or each end portion of this member I! may be provided across its opposite faces at each end portion thereof with the inwardly facing shoulders l2 with which the flanges 5 and 1' have contact.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a belt constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification Without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a casing comprising two overlying plates, an interposed neck connecting adjacent ends of the plates at one side thereof, the opposite side portions of the plates being constructed and arranged to be secured to an end portion of a strip inserted therebetween, extension plates carried by the free end portions of the first named plates, each of said extension plates being of a length less than the length of the neck, one of said extension plates lapping the other.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a casing comprising two overlying plates, an interposed neck connecting adjacent ends of the plates at one side thereof, the opposite side portions of the plates being constructed and arranged to be secured to an end portion of a strip inserted therebetween, extension plates carried by the free end portions of the first named plates, each of said extension plates being of a length less than the length of the neck, one of said extension plates lapping the other, and tabs carried by the outer portions of the extension plates, the tabs of one extension plate extending across the side edges of the second extension plate and the tabs of the second extension plate extending across the side edges of the first extension plate.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a casing comprising two plates in overlying relation to receive an end portion of a strip therebetween, means for securing the plates to the strip, said plates each having inner flanges disposed one toward the other for holding engagement with an elastic member, the free longitudinal margin of one of said flanges being recessed, the second flange being of a width greater than the aforesaid mentioned flange.

4. In combination with the end portions of adjacent strips, an elastic element substantially bridging the space between said end portions, said element at its end portions having shoulders disposed transversely across its opposite faces, a casing for the end portion of each of the adjacent strips, said casing comprising two plates in overlying relation to receive the end portion of the strip therebetween, means for securing the plates to the strip, and flanges carried by said plates and disposed one toward the other and engaging behind the shoulders of the elastic element.

JOHN RASP. 

